The hang tag is hot in merchandising across many consumer markets right now. Everyone from clothing designers and chocolatiers to condiment makers and high-end cosmetics and personal care products merchandisers are going in for highly-customized, brand-awareness-boosting hang tags, attached to the product with hang tag elastic. Some of the designs are so great, consumers use them as bookmarks, elastic loops and all, once the product is unwrapped. Here are some of the hottest trends in elastic hang tag design now:

• Die-Cut—Not just square or rectangle… it could be the shape of a bird, a flower, a moon, a retro luggage tag or anything else; whatever speaks to your brand message. All it needs is a hole at the top for the elastic thread to loop through and attach to the product.
• Typography—It used to be just a way to convey essential information, but now fonts are as much a part of the design as the color, shape or other graphics. Many merchandisers are opting to have their own fonts designed to completely set their brand apart from the Helvetica-using crowd and convey uniqueness.
• Elastic Loop Attachment—Elastic hang tag attachments are as much about form as they are about function, and designers today (as well as consumers) love when the two go hand-in-hand, as they do with elastic cord. From metallic, colored elastic cord (for high-end products) to matte elastic cord (for products broadcasting their “natural” connection), elastic cord makes attaching hang tags to product so much easier and stylish than other potential fasteners.
• Retro is Forever—Graphic designers are decade-hopping more than ever. The psychedelic 60s never seems to get old, not to mention turn-of-the-century “antique-ness.” Designers are even bringing back the bold colors of the 80s and 90s as well. It all depends on your branding strategy.

If you’ve got a big hang tag product merchandising project, contact Elastic Connections at 847-426-6830 to discuss the best elastic cord for your tags.